20110896 Ver 4_WRC Comments_20170316

Burdette, Jennifer a
From: Higgins, Karen
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 3:12 PM
To: Burdette, Jennifer a
Subject: FW: Orton Plantation, Brunswick Co.
Attachments: USACE_Orton Pleasant Oaks Plantation_NCWRC.pdf
fyi
E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
From: Dunn, Maria T.
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 2:56 PM
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Higgins, Karen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Orton Plantation, Brunswick Co.
Mr. Dooley,
Please accept the attached comments for the above project. If there any comments or questions, please do not hesitate
to call.
Maria
Maria T. Dunn
Coastal Coordinator
NC Wildlife; Resources, Commission
43 Washington Sq. Mall
Washington, NC, 2788
office: 252-948-3916
fax: [phone]
www.ncwildlife.org
Email. corrpspor dpnce to acid 'torr this spndpr is subjpct to thp N.C. ;Public Records _aw and may by disclos d o U'iiird paries.
1

9 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 9
Gordon Myers, Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO: Brennan Dooley
US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
FROM: Maria T. Dunn, Coastal Coordinator
Habitat Conservation Division
DATE: March 16, 2017
SUBJECT: Public Notice for Orton Plantation Holdings, LLC, Pleasant Oaks Plantation, Brunswick
County, North Carolina.
SAW -2016-02385
Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) reviewed the public notice
with regard to impacts on fish and wildlife resources. Our comments are provided in accordance with
provisions of the Coastal Area Management Act (G.S. 113A-100 through 113A-128), as amended,
Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, as amended, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
(48 Stat. 401, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
Orton Plantation Holdings, LLC is proposing to restore a historic rice field within Pleasant Oaks
Plantation by expanding the existing dike on the inward side of the structure. Permanent impacts to
wetlands within the interior of the dike system would be 1.2 acres for base expansion of the dike with
24.2 acres of temporary wetland impacts within the impoundment area to manage drainage, vegetation,
and elevation. No wetlands outside the impoundment are proposed to be impacted. To mitigate for
permanent wetland impacts, payment to the Lower Cape Fear Umbrella Mitigation Bank for 1.2 acres
(1:1) is proposed.
NCWRC has reviewed the public notice and does not object to the proposal. We accept the 1:1 mitigation
ratio since the permanently impacted wetlands are significantly altered. We do not have significant
concerns with the temporary impacts only because the impacted wetlands are within a once managed area
and the vegetation within the system appears to not be forested, herbaceous, or coastal wetlands that
provide better wildlife habitat and water quality benefits.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on this public notice. Please feel free to contact me
at [phone] or at maria.dunn(a�ncwildlife.org if there are any questions or comments pertaining to
this project.
Mailing Address: Habitat Conservation • 1721 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1721
Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]